Before spring break, the children made small sailboats out of recycled materials. They tested how it works this week. The result was as good as the weather! :)
Monday, 8 April 2019
Row Row Row Your Boat
Before spring break, the children made small sailboats out of recycled materials. They tested how it works this week. The result was as good as the weather! :)
Friday, 15 March 2019
Stepping into our new Unit
Hello Dear Grade 1 Parents,
We had a fun-filled Book and Culture week with so many events, activities, games and dancing! Each morning, we had Wake Up, Shake Up dancing from different countries. We also celebrated by wearing clothes from different countries, book characters, experienced food and drinks from around the world, met with the author Rebecca Otawa and took photos in the photo booth.📚
Book and Culture week photos
This week in Unit, we looked into what different houses look like - igloo, tent, caravan, windmill, apartment, castle, etc. What is the same about them? What is different?🏠
In Math, we studied how to subtract with regrouping (borrowing). This was a bit tricky for many of the students so will revisit this again.
On Thursday, Mr. Komine and his team came and worked with the grade 1 and 2 students to make sailboats. The students enjoyed creating them and we will go sailing with them when they are ready.⛵️ Sailboat making
The Sponsor Run scheduled on the calendar for the 20th is postponed until later in April. We will have regular classes instead.
Next week, we have three days of school from Monday - Wednesday. Spring Break begins from March 21st - March 31st. Ms. J will be back from her maternity leave from April onwards.
It has been a pleasure working with all of your children. I truly enjoyed being their teacher for the last three months. 💞
Have an awesome weekend. Spring is almost here 🌸🌺!
Sincerely,
J. Ramani
We had a fun-filled Book and Culture week with so many events, activities, games and dancing! Each morning, we had Wake Up, Shake Up dancing from different countries. We also celebrated by wearing clothes from different countries, book characters, experienced food and drinks from around the world, met with the author Rebecca Otawa and took photos in the photo booth.📚
Book and Culture week photos
This week in Unit, we looked into what different houses look like - igloo, tent, caravan, windmill, apartment, castle, etc. What is the same about them? What is different?🏠
In Math, we studied how to subtract with regrouping (borrowing). This was a bit tricky for many of the students so will revisit this again.
On Thursday, Mr. Komine and his team came and worked with the grade 1 and 2 students to make sailboats. The students enjoyed creating them and we will go sailing with them when they are ready.⛵️ Sailboat making
The Sponsor Run scheduled on the calendar for the 20th is postponed until later in April. We will have regular classes instead.
Next week, we have three days of school from Monday - Wednesday. Spring Break begins from March 21st - March 31st. Ms. J will be back from her maternity leave from April onwards.
It has been a pleasure working with all of your children. I truly enjoyed being their teacher for the last three months. 💞
Have an awesome weekend. Spring is almost here 🌸🌺!
Sincerely,
J. Ramani
Friday, 8 March 2019
Concluding our Fourth Unit
Dear Grade 1 Parents,
Another inspiring week of learning!
We had looked at what is a homophone, homonym and now we know what is a homograph! The students also categorized words as nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs. They are also continuing to work on expanding sentences in their writing to add more details and information.
In Math, the students subtracted two and three-digit numbers without regrouping.
The students are excited to be working on their own Pythagoras Switch using simple machines and materials around the school as a part of their Unit lessons.
Every week, Reading homework is given out to each child. While listening to your child read and after, it is good to ask some questions to further his/her understanding of the book and make connections. Attached is a guide of some sample questions you can use.
This week, we had a special field trip to Miele, a German homeware store, newly opened in Sannomiya. The first graders enjoyed creating their own special custard pies and eating apple pie made by the German chef, Mr. Volker Gmeiner. Thank you to Mrs. Trujillo, Mrs. Seo, Mrs. Tamura & Mr. and Mrs, Elko for joining us on the trip. Here are some photos of the day - Miele field trip
Here is an article in the Japanese newspaper regarding our field trip to Miele.
Next week, we will have a school-wide Book and Culture Week.
On Monday, students are encouraged to wear clothes from either their own culture or any other culture.
On Tuesday, students can come to school (or change at school) into their pajamas or any relaxed, comfortable clothing. If your child has a favorite picture book, he/she can bring that into school as well.
On Wednesday, we will have a visiting author, Rebecca Otawa, who wrote the book, My Amazing Adventures in Japan. Students who purchased her book can have it signed. Books will be available for purchasing for 1000 yen on that day as well.
On Friday is Book Character Dress Up Day. Students can dress up in their favorite character or someone who inspires them. There is a table in the school foyer area with some ideas to help your child.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
Have a superb weekend!
Sincerely,
J. Ramani
Another inspiring week of learning!
We had looked at what is a homophone, homonym and now we know what is a homograph! The students also categorized words as nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs. They are also continuing to work on expanding sentences in their writing to add more details and information.
In Math, the students subtracted two and three-digit numbers without regrouping.
The students are excited to be working on their own Pythagoras Switch using simple machines and materials around the school as a part of their Unit lessons.
Every week, Reading homework is given out to each child. While listening to your child read and after, it is good to ask some questions to further his/her understanding of the book and make connections. Attached is a guide of some sample questions you can use.
Here is an article in the Japanese newspaper regarding our field trip to Miele.
Next week, we will have a school-wide Book and Culture Week.
On Monday, students are encouraged to wear clothes from either their own culture or any other culture.
On Tuesday, students can come to school (or change at school) into their pajamas or any relaxed, comfortable clothing. If your child has a favorite picture book, he/she can bring that into school as well.
On Wednesday, we will have a visiting author, Rebecca Otawa, who wrote the book, My Amazing Adventures in Japan. Students who purchased her book can have it signed. Books will be available for purchasing for 1000 yen on that day as well.
On Friday is Book Character Dress Up Day. Students can dress up in their favorite character or someone who inspires them. There is a table in the school foyer area with some ideas to help your child.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
Have a superb weekend!
Sincerely,
J. Ramani
Friday, 1 March 2019
Carnival Fun!
What an amazing Thursday we had at the Carnival in the morning! The students enjoyed the day, participating in fun events in the morning and dressing up in creative outfits.
Photos and videos from the Carnival
Of course, we did lots of learning this week as always ;-)
We looked deeper into various simple machines - why are they considered simple machines and not nails?), how can we make a "Wolf Catching Machine" using gears, what are some various levers around us and how can we use them, and how much can a pulley lift up.
Here are some photos of the students trying to open a pistachio using their fingers as a lever... did it work? What other tools did we use to pry the shell open?
Some of the students experimented with incline planes at recess time as well -
During our language lessons, students studied what adverbs are and how to expand sentences using more adjectives and adverbs.
How much is a gram vs. kilogram? What things around us do we weigh in grams and kilograms? Our first graders know this now. They also solved three-digit addtion problems using regrouping.
For a special project coming up, please bring in three, cleaned out, 1-liter cartons by Monday, March 11th.
Some upcoming events -
Next Thursday morning, March 7th, our class will be going on a field trip to Miele, a new German homeware store in Sannomiya and doing a baking activity.🇩🇪
March 11 - 15th will be Book and Culture week with various activities going on (more details regarding this will be shared in next week's blog).
On Wednesday, March 20th, we will have a Sponsors Run.
And after that will be our long awaited Spring Break!✈️🏖
Until then, have a super fun weekend☀️
Sincerely,
J. Ramani
Photos and videos from the Carnival
Of course, we did lots of learning this week as always ;-)
We looked deeper into various simple machines - why are they considered simple machines and not nails?), how can we make a "Wolf Catching Machine" using gears, what are some various levers around us and how can we use them, and how much can a pulley lift up.
Here are some photos of the students trying to open a pistachio using their fingers as a lever... did it work? What other tools did we use to pry the shell open?
During our language lessons, students studied what adverbs are and how to expand sentences using more adjectives and adverbs.
How much is a gram vs. kilogram? What things around us do we weigh in grams and kilograms? Our first graders know this now. They also solved three-digit addtion problems using regrouping.
For a special project coming up, please bring in three, cleaned out, 1-liter cartons by Monday, March 11th.
Some upcoming events -
Next Thursday morning, March 7th, our class will be going on a field trip to Miele, a new German homeware store in Sannomiya and doing a baking activity.🇩🇪
March 11 - 15th will be Book and Culture week with various activities going on (more details regarding this will be shared in next week's blog).
On Wednesday, March 20th, we will have a Sponsors Run.
And after that will be our long awaited Spring Break!✈️🏖
Until then, have a super fun weekend☀️
Sincerely,
J. Ramani
Friday, 22 February 2019
We've had another busy week with lots of fun learning.
In Language, we identified different personal pronouns, using them correctly and recalling what vowels are and when to use a / an/ the.
We investigated into different ways to measure length and weight and the units used. It was tricky for some to know when to use millmeters, centimeters, meters and kilometers. Perhaps practicing at home or while going for family drives can help more.
We continued looking further into simple machines and discovered what potential and kinetic (and thermal energy) are. Here is a great website where the students were able to adjust variables to increase and decrease potential/kinetic energy and create their own skate ramp. - Energy Skate Park
Photos of students busy with their inquiry - Kinetic and Potential Energy at the skatepark
As mentioned in last's week's blogs, if you are interested in joining our class on our field trip on March 7th, please let me know soon.
Also, as part of our unit investigation on forces and motion, we will be having a special guest who will be coming and to teach the students how to make sailboats next month. For this, we require each student to bring three, washed one-liter milk/juice cartons.
The students enjoyed having a special guest flutist perform for our class on Wednesday. She perfomed some classical French tunes as well as some child-friendly music!
Thank you for your support in your child's learning.
Have a beautiful weekend!
Sincerely,
J. Ramani
Friday, 15 February 2019
Simple Machines Around Us
Hello! Happy Valentine's Day 💖
This week, we looked at simple machines - wheel & axle, lever, inclined plane (ramp), pulley, wedge, and screw. Where do we see these simple machines around us? How are they used? How are they helpful for us?
In Language, we recognized what the difference is between a complete sentence, incomplete sentence and a run-on sentence. We also reviewed letter writing by sending Valentine's letter to our special person.
We investigated how to use a pan balance, kitchen scale and a weighing scale - estimating and calculating the actual weight for our Math lessons.
Here they are with their investigating - Balance investigation
The Grade 5/6 class invited us to discuss the robots we made. The students were a bit shy in talking to the older students but after some time, we were able to share in smaller groups.
Sharing our robots
Looking ahead, on March 7th, our class has been invited to the opening of a German appliance store, Miele, in Sannomiya. Parents are invited to come to meet us there as well. If you would like to come, please let me know by February 20 as we need to inform them beforehand. The address of the place is - Park Side Building, 116 Higashimachi Chuo-ku Kobe.
** Visiting Author - Rebecca Ottowa
This week, we looked at simple machines - wheel & axle, lever, inclined plane (ramp), pulley, wedge, and screw. Where do we see these simple machines around us? How are they used? How are they helpful for us?
In Language, we recognized what the difference is between a complete sentence, incomplete sentence and a run-on sentence. We also reviewed letter writing by sending Valentine's letter to our special person.
We investigated how to use a pan balance, kitchen scale and a weighing scale - estimating and calculating the actual weight for our Math lessons.
Here they are with their investigating - Balance investigation
The Grade 5/6 class invited us to discuss the robots we made. The students were a bit shy in talking to the older students but after some time, we were able to share in smaller groups.
Sharing our robots
Looking ahead, on March 7th, our class has been invited to the opening of a German appliance store, Miele, in Sannomiya. Parents are invited to come to meet us there as well. If you would like to come, please let me know by February 20 as we need to inform them beforehand. The address of the place is - Park Side Building, 116 Higashimachi Chuo-ku Kobe.
** Visiting Author - Rebecca Ottowa
We have exciting news to share with you about an upcoming visit from a local author - Rebecca Ottowa. She will be visiting our school on 13 March at 3.00 PM as part of our Book and Culture Week. We will send you further details of her visit. She will be selling copies of her book - My Awesome Japan Adventure and we will be holding a book signing event as well.
We will be pre-ordering copies of her book to sell during the event. If you would like to buy a copy and have her autograph it, please order here.
This book is also the perfect present for friends back home as it showcases a very unique Japanese culture. So do consider buying a few copies to give away as presents!
Have a special weekend!
Sincerely,
J. Ramani
Friday, 8 February 2019
Fun week of Forces Experimentations!
It was lovely meeting our class parents this week during the Three-Way Conferences. I hope your child was able to share more about their learnings as some children were quite shy to speak at the meeting!
This week in our Unit lessons, we experimented with different size parachutes to find out how air resistance affects them, raced cars down slopes of different textures, looked at how astronauts live in space stations without gravity, tested the buoyancy of different materials and discussed how simple machines work.
Here's an album of students' experimenting - Further into Friction
In Math, we studied about how to measure accurately using centimeters and meters with things in our classroom and our body parts. We also looked at how to calculate elapsed time and adding two-digit numbers using regrouping.
Here are more photos of the students measuring around the class.
What is the difference between a homophone and homonym? I'm sure your child can tell you what is right, write and right 😉! We will also continue writing, using correct end punctuation, capital letters and using a thesaurus to make our stories more exciting to read.
Next Monday - Wednesday, we will have the grade 1/2 Flea Market. Thank you to those who brought in things for us to sell. The students will take turns helping at the table for 15 minutes during snack, lunch and after school. You are welcomed to come take a look after school in case you'd like to do some shopping 🛍🛍! Students can shop during these times as well.
Looking ahead, the week of March 11, 2019, the school will have Book Culture week. On Wednesday, March 13th, we will have an author, Rebecca Ottowa, visiting our school. The school is having her book, My Awesome Japan Adventure, on sale (¥1,000) before she arrives. Please check the school blog to place the order online. The students can then have Rebecca sign the book for them.
Have a super week ahead!
Sincerely,
Ms. Ramani
This week in our Unit lessons, we experimented with different size parachutes to find out how air resistance affects them, raced cars down slopes of different textures, looked at how astronauts live in space stations without gravity, tested the buoyancy of different materials and discussed how simple machines work.
Here's an album of students' experimenting - Further into Friction
In Math, we studied about how to measure accurately using centimeters and meters with things in our classroom and our body parts. We also looked at how to calculate elapsed time and adding two-digit numbers using regrouping.
Here are more photos of the students measuring around the class.
What is the difference between a homophone and homonym? I'm sure your child can tell you what is right, write and right 😉! We will also continue writing, using correct end punctuation, capital letters and using a thesaurus to make our stories more exciting to read.
Next Monday - Wednesday, we will have the grade 1/2 Flea Market. Thank you to those who brought in things for us to sell. The students will take turns helping at the table for 15 minutes during snack, lunch and after school. You are welcomed to come take a look after school in case you'd like to do some shopping 🛍🛍! Students can shop during these times as well.
Looking ahead, the week of March 11, 2019, the school will have Book Culture week. On Wednesday, March 13th, we will have an author, Rebecca Ottowa, visiting our school. The school is having her book, My Awesome Japan Adventure, on sale (¥1,000) before she arrives. Please check the school blog to place the order online. The students can then have Rebecca sign the book for them.
Have a super week ahead!
Sincerely,
Ms. Ramani
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)